Superheroes and steroid culture.

Captain America. The Incredible Hulk. Superman. What’s one thing they have in common? They’ve all been on steroids at one point or another. Bold statement to make I know, but it’s one that should be considered when reading about these fictional heroes. Now I know what you’re thinking, this sounds like complete nonsense. Superheroes on steroids? Besides the obvious fact that they’re fictional, the idea that characters like these are being promoted as anabolic users is a bit of a stretch. Give me a few paragraphs to explain and maybe I’ll turn you around on the subject.

Let’s take Captain America for instance. Steven Rogers, The Star Spangled Avenger himself. It’s a character that brings to mind the freedom, justice, and the underdog getting the chance to prove that heart can be the strongest muscle of them all. There’s just one issue with that ideology. Rogers was transformed from scrawny, sickly, do-gooder to muscle bound hero not by merit of exercise and bodybuilding. It’s the vaunted Super Soldier Serum that makes Rogers into Captain America. The serum could easily be a stand-in for steroids. It’s as plain as day that in the comics Rogers was never going to achieve physical greatness due to his inferior genetics. The serum is the reason he was able to bulk up in the first place.

The Incredible Hulk is another example of how anabolic ideology was able to leak into comics. Bruce Banner was a less than physically impressive specimen before a gamma ray experiment gone wrong turned him into the giant juggernaut. Banner’s exposure to the rays caused him to put on massive size and strength, a side effect not dissimilar to steroids. The government even tried to replicate the results afterwards resulting in “roid rage” monster villains like Abomination.

Out of everyone the heroes I’ve mentioned in this article, Superman‘s example is a bit more of a stretch, but it’s no less interesting. Think about it. The Earth’s yellow sun makes him a complete badass, so much so that once Superman is exposed to it, the solar rays aid his recovery. It’s another unconscious nod to steroids and a bit of an eye opening revelation. Without the sun Superman proves to be just like anyone else, an average male with no superpowers to give him the edge.

So where do real life bodybuilders fit into all this? Head over to page 2 and find out!